For people and agencies caught up in environmental disasters, rapid and accurate assessments of conditions on the ground are critical to saving lives and protecting property. This is the aim of the International Charter Space and Major Disasters. Making such assessments just got easier with the provision of data from largest fleet of miniature earth imaging satellites maintained by Planet to the Disasters Charter.

In May 2018, Planet, an American private Earth imaging company headquartered in San Francisco, joined the International Charter Space and Major Disasters as an approved data contributor. Planet will provide 3.7 m Planetscope data.

Andrew Zolli, Vice President of Global Impact Initiatives at Planet: "Timely satellite imagery, and the insights we derive from it are critical assets before, during and long after a disaster. As part of our mission to use space to help life on Earth, we are delighted to support the International Charter."

With 150+ satellites in orbit, Planet is able to image anywhere on Earth daily at 3.7 m, with follow-on tasking of high-resolution imagery at72 cm resolution. Their participation in the Charter will advance its goal of getting imagery for disaster response into the hands of the people who need it.

Mike Williams, EUMETSAT and current chair of the Charter: "The Charter is very pleased to welcome the company Planet with its constellation of microsatellites as an approved partner in the Charter."

Hans-Peter Lüttenberg, DLR and current co-chair of the International Charter, said: "The Charter members believe that Planet's large constellation will add to the Charter's ability to respond effectively to calls after major disasters worldwide."

Planet has recently submitted its first data in response to Charter activations for flooding in Laos and Japan.